Fort Worth Diocese Bars Priest Accused of Sexual MisconductPriest: the Fort Worth Diocese Did Not Know That a Visiting Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse Was Practicing Ministry at an Arlington Parish.

By Darren Barbee
Fort Worth Star Telegram (Texas)
July 1, 2004

ARLINGTON--A Pennsylvania priest suspended because of sexual
misconduct allegations has been barred from practicing in the Fort
Worth Roman Catholic Diocese.

The Rev. Christopher Clay, who maintains his innocence, has
celebrated Mass at St. Mary the Virgin Roman Catholic Church in
Arlington for more than a year without the diocese's knowledge,
said the Rev. Robert Wilson, the diocese's chancellor.

"He cannot perform any kind of priestly duties," Wilson said.

Clay, who lives in Oak Cliff, has been on a leave of absence
from active ministry in the Diocese of Scranton since February
2003, according to a statement from the Pennsylvania diocese.

The Rev. Allan Hawkins of St. Mary said that he was aware of
allegations against his friend Clay but invited him to celebrate
Mass at the Arlington church because he believed Clay was on sick
leave. In an e-mail, Hawkins said Clay had been appointed to a Lake
Ariel, Pa., parish in 2003 before asking for a leave of absence.

Hawkins said that he contacted the Scranton diocese around March
2003 to make sure Clay could assist at St. Mary.

The now-retired Scranton bishop "assured me that this was
entirely acceptable," Hawkins wrote. In a statement issued last
week, the Diocese of Scranton said no diocese had requested
information about Clay.

Allegations against Clay first came to light during a 2002
law-enforcement investigation, a Scranton diocese spokeswoman said.
The diocese is still investigating the incident, Wilson said
Wednesday.

Clay, who did not return a message left at his home, has not
been charged with a crime. Hawkins said Clay "strenuously denies
all and any such allegations."

Clay was accused in a subsequent civil court document of giving
a young man alcohol and undressing him, said James Bendell, a
Washington state attorney who represents Clay's accuser in a
lawsuit against two other priests. Clay is not being sued, Bendell
said.

Mike Gleason, a St. Mary parishioner until he moved to
California a few weeks ago, said he was not aware of the
allegations against Clay.

Gleason said he will continue to support St. Mary even though he
has moved out of state.

"I don't want to take this lightly, especially as the father of
young children," Gleason said. "But it's frustrating when you hear
this about someone you know who is doing a lot of good."